Million dollar prize fund for 2024 world pool championship

[zetetikos]

Saudi Arabia are allies with the USA, therefore, I am good with them because they can upped the prize money for pool players. Attract more viewers and one step, I mean many steps forward, in getting pool to where we all want it.

Allies is a pretty loose term with the saudis, do allies kill your journalists? do allies send their young men to blow up your buildings? Do allies threaten to cut off resources? US maintains relations with saudis because its politically expediate to do so, in that its a regional counter to someone the us dislikes more and their resources/money buy them a seat at the table and its better to keep as many countries in your orbit rather than they go to the orbit of your enemies. Allies dont always mean friends.

 

[justnum]

Allies is a pretty loose term with the saudis, do allies kill your journalists? do allies send their young men to blow up your buildings? Do allies threaten to cut off resources? US maintains relations with saudis because its political expediate to do so, in that its a regional counter to someone the us dislikes more and their resources/money buy them a seat at the table and its better to keep as many countries in your orbit rather than they go to the orbit of your enemies. Allies dont always mean friends.

Sounds like the NYPD LAPD or US Border patrol, everyone in a law enforcement agency violates constitutional rights. The Saudis allow extradition and help in the area.

Even a POTUS is a problem.

Sometimes the law enforcements violate constitutional rights in their own families and then try to cover it up.

Imagine a justnum in Saudi and Iran and Syria, where are the old borders of Persia and Mongolia exactly?

 

[skogstokig]

Imagine a justnum in Saudi and Iran and Syria

i'm imagining it right now, and beginning to understand their restrictions of the internet

 

[briclops]

I won’t watch it either. I don’t watch Liv either. I’ve stopped watching the PGA. Many people feel the same.

I think that people should support the event. If we care about the players then this needs to be successful in order for other promoters or even the Saudi government to help sponsor the remaining Matchroom events.

Too many talented players have left the game at the professional level in their prime due to lack of money in the game.

The difference with LIV golf is that you had a lot of already well off golfers that didn’t need to leave the PGA for an even bigger paycheck. Pool players are just trying to get their fair share of the pie for the skills that they entertain us with.

 

[kling&allen]

I think that people should support the event. If we care about the players then this needs to be successful in order for other promoters or even the Saudi government to help sponsor the remaining Matchroom events.

Too many talented players have left the game at the professional level in their prime due to lack of money in the game.

The difference with LIV golf is that you had a lot of already well off golfers that didn’t need to leave the PGA for an even bigger paycheck. Pool players are just trying to get their fair share of the pie for the skills that they entertain us with.

I plan to support this and loudly complain at the same time. It’s like a railbird’s dream.

It also undermines the sportswashing.

 

[The_JV]

Pool players will always find something else to complain about.

 

[skip100]

i don't think this is the issue. there seems to be a good amount of regional pool players, and if attendance is fairly affordable the filipino fan contingent will show up. the prize money will sort out the excitement - imagine a QF match meaning you're playing for 40k or a chance for the 200k first prize. that's massive for a pool player, life changing. i think we'll see nerves like never before.

the issue is a political and moral one. but money talks. i'm torn between being glad for the players to get this opportunity and my deep dislike for the country. someone brought up china as a comparison on a snooker forum. but the chinese snooker events are private enterprises / promotions, while this is the saudi government. that's different. i've read some golf and tennis writers suggesting western sports can change SA in a positive way. one can hope, i guess.

I am not particularly scandalized by the politics. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain have all spent billions on global sports properties in recent years. They know they need to diversify their economies and can have a very long-term view. Far bigger and more important sports than pool have been impacted in much more disruptive ways.

 

[Jimmorrison]

I think that people should support the event. If we care about the players then this needs to be successful in order for other promoters or even the Saudi government to help sponsor the remaining Matchroom events.

Too many talented players have left the game at the professional level in their prime due to lack of money in the game.

The difference with LIV golf is that you had a lot of already well off golfers that didn’t need to leave the PGA for an even bigger paycheck. Pool players are just trying to get their fair share of the pie for the skills that they entertain us with.

Well said, certainly worth considering.

 

[CanadianGuy]

let em own world football, golf and F1

throw the spare change to pro pool

im totally good with that

 

[8intheside]

SVB is good but is he good enough to beat everyone for the biggest payday to date?

Lately SVB has been not stringing titles as easily as he used too. Does he still have a chance when that much money is on the line?

Surveys of the youth no longer mention SVB as the top shooter. Now its Jayson or Joshua the most popular male pros on tour.

He has to be among the favorites in any tournament he enters. IMO

 

[VTEC John]

Saudi buys up another sport in its ongoing attempt to soften their international profile. Pool and Snooker benefit, and while the money is meaningless pocket change for the Saudis, the laugh is still on them. Sponsoring pool tournaments won't change anyone's mind about this duplicitous "ally," nor about the disgusting and corrupt Saudi royal family. It'll take a lot more than sports-driven Public Relations to burnish Saudi Arabia's image. In the meantime, pool, the players and hopefully Matchroom get a welcome boost from an unwelcome source. So good.

 

[Swighey]

The snooker tournament was first announced in 2019 but then covid hit:

Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters introduced with enormous prize fund on 10-year deal

A controversial move

metro.co.uk

Be thankful that Matchroom have reworked the deal to include the World Pool Championship.

 

[justnum]

He has to be among the favorites in any tournament he enters. IMO

SVB is a favorite just like Earl.

 

[JAM]

I think that people should support the event. If we care about the players then this needs to be successful in order for other promoters or even the Saudi government to help sponsor the remaining Matchroom events.

Too many talented players have left the game at the professional level in their prime due to lack of money in the game.

The difference with LIV golf is that you had a lot of already well off golfers that didn’t need to leave the PGA for an even bigger paycheck. Pool players are just trying to get their fair share of the pie for the skills that they entertain us with.

Best post in the thread, and I agree.

Does Saudi Arabia need Matchroom Multisports to polish their image in the eyes of the world, or does Matchroom Multisports need Saudi Arabia's to polish the image of pool in the eyes of the world? If pool can be showcased on international channels in Saudi Arabia, it will be a good boost to its image, especially the way Matchroom does their commercials. I'll never forget Vietnam's video commercial. Wow!

That said, I am reminded of the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but one bad apple from Saudi Arabia shouldn't tarnish its image, just like one bad apple in USA or any other country does not mean that country is not good.

I don't think Saudi Arabia needs pool as much as pool needs Saudi Arabia, and in the end, it's win-win for both, but I give pool the edge on the win. Thank you, Barry Hearn, for continuing to keep pushing pool up the sports ladder from the bottom rung.

​

 

[Positively Ralf]

You'd think with the reception they got in Vietnam that something like this would be in that area where the crowds would be plentiful and it was the talk of the town. But the saudi's got the money.

I'll be skipping because their events have become too boring for me lately.

 

[justnum]

Saudis employ several foreign workers from PI for their healthcare and homecare.

For the Filipinos this is a big win. They can have Filipino type holiday in Saudi.

 

[The_JV]

I'll be skipping because their events have become too boring for me lately.

Curious... You mean MR events have become too boring...?

I find that surprising. The only two things I can think of that would be comparable would be the Predator events and something AccuStats. The Predator form factor isn't much different but MR's production is way better and their commentary is light years ahead. I'd rather take ice picks to my ears then listen to the gum sucking that's non-stop on AccuStats. Not to mention the 2000's cell phone quality video recording

 

[jay helfert]

When I read all of the above I'm torn, glad for the substantial prize money increase in this single event and hopeful it will lead to more like it in the future, and yet not enamored about Pool's new suitors. I will not ever forget 9/11! No question there was a Saudi led terrorist cell behind all that. I'm also not so stuck in the past that I have no hope for the present or the future, particularly as it pertains to the sport that means so much to me.

I see clear differences here between what Matchroom is doing and what the Saudi PIF did with pro golf. In this case Matchroom continues to own and operate this tournament, and with the golf scenario the Saudi PIF created their own separate LIV golf tour. Many people forget that there have been many professional sporting events held in Saudi Arabia by numerous sports federations for a long time now, including those in golf and tennis. It only became an issue when the Saudis tried to buy out professional golf.

In truth I prefer what I see here to what long time conman (Trudeau) did fifteen years ago. I never trusted him and his promises ended up being hollow ones. In Trudeau's case the conman got conned by one of pool's best players, who enriched himself in the process. In this case, Matchroom is a legitimate sports organizations with a long history of success. There is no comparison between Trudeau and the Hearns, either father or son! Unlike Trudeau, the Hearns are the real deal!

Once again thank you Matchroom for your efforts to uplift our sport to new heights in the sport firmament. To me more prize money equates to more interest worldwide, more participation and more business for those in the billiard industry. When we see more pro pool players making a healthy six figures a year you will see more young kids being encouraged by their parents to play pool, and perhaps more new pool rooms opening up again.

 

[garczar]

I love hearing people on a pool forum getting all wound up about where prize $ is coming from. Who gives a rat's ass? Be glad its there and go get it. Is there ANY country on earth that's all lily-white/innocent?? If the Saudi's want to get involved i say bring the dough. I don't like LIV golf but its the format, the goofy music in the background and that tool Norman that keeps me from watching. Can't blame the players for taking bags of cash.

 

[skogstokig]

I love hearing people on a pool forum getting all wound up about where prize $ is coming from. Who gives a rat's ass? Be glad its there and go get it. Is there ANY country on earth that's all lily-white/innocent?? If the Saudi's want to get involved i say bring the dough. I don't like LIV golf but its the format, the goofy music in the background and that tool Norman that keeps me from watching. Can't blame the players for taking bags of cash.

iceland. but the prize money would be codfish.